Lamar football to hold preseason scrimmage Saturday

The first of two preseason scrimmages for the Lamar University football team is Saturday, and head coach Ray Woodard hopes that scrimmage can be played on the school’s newly-laid turf inside Provost Umphrey Stadium.

He’s not counting on it though.

“If I was a betting man, I’d say we’ll be on the grass” at the Vernon Glass Field of Champions, which is the team’s practice field. But should Woodard get the OK to put the scrimmage in the stadium, Woodard plans to push the start time back a half hour to 7:30 p.m. to give his players more time under the lights in darker skies.

If Woodard does not get the OK, then he has targeted the scrimmage scheduled for Aug. 21 as the first best chance for fans to see his team on the stadium field. The scrimmages should give fans the best chances before the season to see what kind of team Lamar will have this season, its first for football since 1989.

“It’s getting exciting seeing some of the final touches on the field,” Woodard said. “All the turf is laid now. You go by and see that, go into the facility and most of the carpet is down. Most of the final touches are going up. It’s exciting to see that come together. We’re finishing up practices and the lights are on in teh stadium. It’s very encouraging.”